There is a thrilling beauty here, but also deep and wise instruction. For those of us who work as partners with the powers of earth this is especially useful. “Realist eyes and act” so elegantly captures my own experiences of engaging with the spirits of raptors in particular: most creatures I find to be somewhat patient, but eagle and hawk are not – they want what they want and will not wait! Contrasted with the “massive/mysticism of stone”, where once again the spirit of the object (“earthquake-proved and signatured by ages of storms”) is exactly captured, and points to what I feel standing on an erratic boulder at Carkeek Park and connecting with its power. “Massive mysticism”: perfect.

Inspired by words like these I find myself turning to prayer: let me borrow the poet’s words to directly address these creatures he has so eloquently honored: